Right Before Our Eyes: Dissent, Democracy, and Creative Resistance in Hong Kong
Event Details
Since the passing of the National Security Law on July 1, 2020, the world has been witnessing the ‘un-doing and dismantling’ of the relatively high autonomy of Hong Kong. This session situates the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests as part of the global movement against tyranny and dictatorship. People in Hong Kong have stood up against a powerful authoritarian regime to safeguard the core values of democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law. It is now incumbent upon members of the international community to take meaningful actions and to extend our full support. We will discuss the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement touching on its impact and interrelationship with Canadian and other movements for democracy. The event explores the movement as a form of creative resistance, as well as an expression of freedom.
Date: October 27, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM EDT – 11:30 AM EDT
Location: Online Platform – WeBEX
Speakers: Brian Leung, RU Stand with Hong Kong, Ontario Universities Hong Kong Awareness Group & Dr. Ken Moffatt
Moderator: Dr. Winnie Ng
Brian Leung
Brian Leung Kai-Ping is a Hong Kong democracy activist who is currently pursuing his political science Ph.D. at the University of Washington in Seattle. His research focuses on political economy, social movement, China, and Hong Kong. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Hong Kong, during which he participated extensively in the Umbrella Movement of 2014. Since then, he has been an active political commentator on Hong Kong politics and published a bestselling edited volume on Hong Kong’s identity politics. In 2019, he became an icon of Hong Kong’s anti-extradition movement, after unmasking himself and reading a statement on behalf of protesters at the Legislative Council.
RU Stand with Hong Kong
Ryerson Stands With Hong Kong is a student support group at Ryerson University that seeks to raise awareness about the democracy movement in Hong Kong and the CCP’s oppression around the globe. Some of their work in the past includes: fundraising to support Canadian advocacy work and Hong Kong protesters, delivering presentations and tabling to engage in dialogues and share information about the movement in Hong Kong, organizing mental health workshops to support the wellbeing of students who have been impacted by the Hong Kong crisis. A member of the group will speak.
Ontario Universities Hong Kong Awareness Group
ONUHKAG is a student-led group aiming to advocate for academic freedom and human rights, particularly related to Hong Kong and other regions under CCP control. The group seeks to connect pro-Hong Kong movement students across Ontario, Canadian Hong-Kongers, and other diasporic communities in Canada. ONUHKAG’s work primarily involves delivering presentations, webinars, organizing events and rallies in Toronto and advocacy work on campuses. A member of the group will speak.
Dr. Ken Moffatt
As the Jack Layton Chair, Professor Ken Moffatt aims to build community-oriented engagement at Ryerson through a multi-disciplinary approach. He is particularly interested in politics, sociology, educational theory, social work, queer theory, and creative arts. Professor Moffatt brings to this position his research expertise on the effects of neoliberalism and new managerialism on policy and education; community-based, culturally-focused social interventions; mechanisms of power contributing to social inclusion and exclusion; as well as critical reflective practice and pedagogy.
Dr. Winnie Ng
Winnie is an active member of Toronto Association for Democracy in China. For over three decades, she has championed the rights of workers through her involvement with various labour organizations and networks. Winnie is a former Unifor-Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice & Democracy at Ryerson, and former acting executive director of the Labour Education Centre. For eight years, she was the Canadian Labour Congress’ Ontario regional director. She is an executive member of the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance, the labour co-chair of Good Jobs for All Coalition, and a board member of Labour Community Services. She is the recipient of numerous distinctions including the Urban Alliance on Race Relations’ Leadership Award, and the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.
